Love Eternal, a game that masterfully blends the essence of Celeste with elements of horror, hooked me at PAX West. Initially unsure of what to expect, I was thoroughly drawn in by its well-crafted level design, engaging gameplay, and compelling storyline. Now, I find myself eagerly awaiting the chance to delve deeper into the game.
The visual presentation of the game is deceptively simple, with a character art style that looks a bit like the classic game Flashback. It begins with my character, a young girl, being called to the dinner table. The game features a series of cutscenes that zoom in on the characters, enhancing their interactions. During dinner, the phone rings, and I am tasked with answering it. Mysteriously, there's no one on the other line. Upon returning to the dining room, I discover that my family has vanished. As I exit the room, I find myself suddenly transported into a sinister, shadowy realm. Here, I must navigate by leaping across platforms and dodging walls bristling with spikes. This abrupt shift piqued my curiosity, compelling me to unravel the story and learn more about the world and the events that are happening.
One of the standout features of Love Eternal is its beautifully crafted level design coupled with a progressive learning curve. Initially, the game teaches the basics of jumping, which gradually escalates to more complex maneuvers. For instance, after mastering the simple jump, I was introduced to the concept of gravity manipulation, allowing for the second jump that had me defying gravity and walking on the ceiling.
Each new skill is anchored by an introductory puzzle, which wonderfully scales in complexity. Challenges such as avoiding spikes while executing jumps or activating levers to disable laser barriers become intricate when combined with navigating through spike-laden pillars. Thank goodness for save states; they were a lifesaver in sections where I died repeatedly. Each death was accompanied by my character's scream, which further enhanced the game's eerie atmosphere. However, having observed others play before my press meeting provided a foundational understanding, which I used to my advantage when it was my turn to engage with the game.
The demo took me approximately ten to fifteen minutes to finish, but what I didn't anticipate was the jump scare that was waiting for me. This game is undeniably creepy, and I’d prefer not to reveal any details so that your experience can be just as surprising. What I can share is that Love Eternal was a runner-up for our Best of PAX West award, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into it.
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